Faiza: "The uncertainty is driving me crazy"

"I have no idea how this will end, how long it will take. The uncertainty is driving me crazy," writes Greenpeace Netherlands campaigner Faiza Oulahsen in a letter from her cell in Murmansk, Russia. She writes about her experiences from entering the Greenpeace icebreaker Arctic Sunrise until a few days ago when she along with 29 others lost their freedom to the Russian security forces. "Two months in jail is one thing, but then? What then?"

Today is Saturday the 28th September I believe, around 12 o’clock. After 9 days of being locked up and cut off from all communication you tend to lose track of time. I was locked up on the ship from Thursday 19 September 18:30 until Tuesday evening.

Shortly before we were taken to shore, Mannes and I spoke to our Consul, Martin Groenstege. A friendly man who gave us hope. After we told him about our situation he told us about the work being done by Greenpeace to support us. Very moving to hear! And we were very happy to know that we have not been forgotten.

About two hours later a translator arrived with a few more FSB’s [formerly the KGB] and we were told that we were going to be taken to land and had 10 minutes to get all our things. We were given the indication that we should pack for about 24 hours. I rushed off to my room where I was still able to make a quick call to Ben and informed him that in a few minutes we were going to be taken ashore to the "Department of Investigation." I then resumed packing and packed my jacket, gloves, underwear, 2 thermals, glasses and toothbrush. Now, after four days, I am sorry I didn’t pack more clean clothes.

On Tuesday we went, for approximately half an hour, on the boat, with the Coast Guard, split in two groups. After half an hour of sailing we were brought to land where I finally had around 10 minutes to be outside and take in the fresh air. After that we were taken by bus to (I think) the head office of the FSB. After arrival, I was one of the first ones to be taken in to what I thought would be an interrogation. There I sat, on a chair inside a cold room, across from a lady who was busy typing. Next to me was a translator, a young lady, who apparently had studied English. Suddenly she was called in by the FSB, together with a few others, and it looked like they did not have much of a choice but to cooperate. She told me that a written report had to be compiled on the incident. I requested a Dutch translator and was told, "That's not possible."

I willingly stated that I would confirm my personal details, but that I would not say anything further until such time as a lawyer was present. "It's just a report" they said. I laughed and said, "I need my lawyer." I gave them the name and telephone number of our two lawyers. After a while Vladizlav, my lawyer, came in.

Around midnight I was taken to the rest of the group. At that moment, a number [of people] were handcuffed and taken away. After that we were supposed to be incarcerated for 48 hours. That’s crap because we had already been incarcerated for five days on the ship. Handcuffed we were taken away in groups to three different buildings. Upon arrival we were put together with six women from our group in a cell. It took quite a while before we were called one by one for intake; therefore we just laid on the floor and wooden tables, because we were dead tired.

Around 5 o'clock in the evening and after taking my fingerprints, I was taken to my cell. A bit later Camila and Alex were brought in. It was ice cold and the lights were on constantly.

The following day we went again to the office. The previous night I was informed that I was going to be charged with piracy and other made-up stories. Today I get to hear who the leaders of the investigation team are — of course drafted in a Russian document. I requested a translation on paper and a copy of the original document. I was told that I had to get my lawyer to request it from the "General in Moscow." At the end of the day I was taken back to the cell.

The next day, Thursday 26/9 was a very heavy day. We were again transported in busses, but this time in a dark, locked up metal cage, where just one person could fit, like animals get transported, to the FSB office.

There we were placed and locked up in windowed cages and we waited for the hearing. Very inhumane.

After a few of us had had the hearing, we were informed that we were under arrest and would be put away for two months until the trial. Alex burst out in tears. I started to lose the calmness and self-control I had been using the past couple of days, slowly but surely. Two months in a cell is one thing but after that? What comes after that? A sentence of a few months or a few years in a case based on lies?

Everything is completely against the rules. The things that the FSB is accusing us of are full of all of these inaccuracies and are things they are guilty of themselves. Nothing is certain. You just need someone at the top to think it and we disappear in the cell. Martin, the consul, said that I should stay calm because the Dutch have a good communication with the Russians. Good communication?? For what, I ask myself? Over the fact that the Russians illegally entered Dutch territory in international waters? Is the Dutch Government demanding our release? Immediately? The Russians are not even allowed to arrest us and still they do it. They do exactly whatever they feel like.

I have no idea how this is going to end, or how long it's going to take. The uncertainty drives me crazy. I heard that Putin publicly said that it wasn't piracy. However his so called "general" has watered down some of the charges. But still we are in jail. 22 of us have been arrested, 8 of us held in detention for 72 hours over and above the 48 hours. They still have to get me and the 7 others a translator for the hearing, and I hope they don’t find one until Sunday because then I still stand a chance to be deported.

You've been very courageous indeed, fighting up there for all of us who are sitt...

Courage and a big hug to Faiza and the whole team !!

You've been very courageous indeed, fighting up there for all of us who are sitting comfortably at home. Keep you spirits up, SO MANY people around the world are thinking of you with fingers crossed for your release !
Whatever the result, what you've done is great and you should be very proud of yourselves !!

And to anyone who might criticize (usually for lack of knowledge of climate change), I think you should remember that these people are not getting anything out of this, they are just fighting for everyone's right to a future on this planet ! They're not doing this for fun or fame, but are thoughtful and courageous people !
Keep it up !!

If they are not up for fun or fame ......... Why they do this and why Greenpeace is reacting like they do ???

Maybe the Pope should make...

If they are not up for fun or fame ......... Why they do this and why Greenpeace is reacting like they do ???

Maybe the Pope should make them Holy Saints ??? They have VIOLATED laws and they know this !!! So let them face justice ........... If someone enters my house against my will........do not wonder about my reaction if they come second time !!! And this is what happened there................ So do not cry, but face justice !!!

OK, so you think noone should ever break a law to protest against decisions that are a threat to everyone's future ? Right, so I suppose you think...

OK, so you think noone should ever break a law to protest against decisions that are a threat to everyone's future ? Right, so I suppose you think Mandela, Gandhi, Aung san suu kyi and Martin Luther King should all go to jail for having unlawfully demonstrated ? Peaceful demonstrations are sometimes the only way to get the message heard, and without people like them, the world would be a very different place !

please, don't talk to that person anymore- it is obvious that it is always the same person and the purpose is to distract the blog with bad energ...

please, don't talk to that person anymore- it is obvious that it is always the same person and the purpose is to distract the blog with bad energy, distorsion and give a wrong picture about all the REAL support which in fact is the real deal..

Amazing to read these "arguments"............ But Greenpeace supporters "use" ALL what might be a touching "argument"!!...

Amazing to read these "arguments"............ But Greenpeace supporters "use" ALL what might be a touching "argument"!!! All the people you are talking about were takeing action in their OWN countries............. Opposite these eco-terrorists have violated another countries laws and they have to face justice according to the laws they have broken !!! It is amazing to read that russian security forces bording this "not polluting" GP-vessel are acting ilegal................but GP has right to bord other peoples property ??? Stop dreaming and start to face reality !!!!

Any intelligent person will realize that Greenpeace always has been and always will be in the right. It's the Russians who were in the wrong! The ...

Any intelligent person will realize that Greenpeace always has been and always will be in the right. It's the Russians who were in the wrong! The experts say that the Russians made a bad move and when this is all done the activists will be free. Every pure hearted person will see it happen. The civilized world does not imprison heroes.

Russians play the game with VERY simple rules !!! They protect their country and their property.......... Mother Russia !!!

My father ...

Russians play the game with VERY simple rules !!! They protect their country and their property.......... Mother Russia !!!

My father stayed 7 years in russian jail as POW when he got prisoner in Stalingrad. But he was honest guy facing his judgement!! He had violated the countries laws by order from some superiors.......... maybe same like Greenpeace !!??

He NEVER said any bad or negative words about Russia or russian people because he knew what his "crime" was.

Sini in jail is looking very thoughtful........she will have time to think about her violation of russian law ............ and maybe also talk positve when she will be coming home to SF !!?? Before SF meant Suomi Finland, it was a marionette of Russia and when Finland became member of EU many people thought SF meant "Soviet Finland"............ so they changed national sign to FIN.

Good advice to GP: Do not play with people who have own and other meaning. Maybe your actions give result in western countries, but in Russia you are at same level like Pussy Riot....... only disturbing ...........

Thank you Faiza for sharing your traumatic experience with us. I fully support and thank you and your GP colleagues for what you are doing. I think th...

Thank you Faiza for sharing your traumatic experience with us. I fully support and thank you and your GP colleagues for what you are doing. I think the Russians' behaviour is indefensible and they need to be held to account. Stay strong, and pass this message on to others. Many many thanks for what you are doing. Annette